The first song I wrote when I was 16 years old. The next song came to me when I was 24 years old. I was washing dishes at Coco Palms when the melody and lyrics came to me for the song “I Searched For Love.” I wrote it not knowing I was to meet my wife Gloria nearly 10 years later during the Korean War, when I was stationed at Schofield Barracks.
The first song I wrote when I was 16 years old. The next song came to me when I was 24 years old. I was washing dishes at Coco Palms when the melody and lyrics came to me for the song “I Searched For Love.” I wrote it not knowing I was to meet my wife Gloria nearly 10 years later during the Korean War, when I was stationed at Schofield Barracks.
So, I found my love there.
Here are the lyrics:
“I Searched For Love”
I searched for love, all through the years
I searched for love, but found just tears
Then suddenly, you came in sight and then
I knew our love was right.
Chorus:
I will never forget the day you and I met
We took one look at each other, knew we could never part
And now the days, are gray and old, but still our love
Is pure as gold.
•••
Larry Rivera has been a musician on Kaua‘i for more than six decades, and shares the stories behind his songs in “Lyrics of Aloha,” appearing once a month in the Sunday edition of The Garden Island. Win prizes and earn an entry in the Vacations Hawai‘i Vegas vacation for two drawing by listening to KONG radio the following Monday and Tuesday between 6 and 8 a.m. and taking part in a contest based on the column.
Coco Palms ?
I’ll take Larry Rivera over Elvis anytime.
Mahalo nui loa to Uncle Larry.
Coco